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Mecklenburg County, Virginia facts for kids

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Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County Courthouse
Mecklenburg County Courthouse
Official seal of Mecklenburg County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Mecklenburg County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Virginia
Founded 1765
Named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Seat Boydton
Largest town South Hill
Area
 • Total 679 sq mi (1,760 km2)
 • Land 625 sq mi (1,620 km2)
 • Water 54 sq mi (140 km2)  7.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 30,319
 • Density 44.65/sq mi (17.240/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 5th
Charlotte Mecklenburg
Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg, the county's namesake

Mecklenburg County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,319. Its county seat is Boydton.

History

Mecklenburg County was organized on March 1, 1765, having split from Lunenburg County in 1764 as the result of the passage of an act by the Virginia General Assembly. Due to new settlement and population increases in the area, the legislature divided Lunenburg into three counties: Lunenburg, Charlotte, and Mecklenburg. It was named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a British queen of German origin.

The first county government consisted of 13 members: Robert Munford, Richard Witton, John Speed, Henry Delony, Edmund Taylor, Benjamin Baird, John Camp, Thomas Erskine, John Potter, John Cox, Thomas Anderson, John Speed, Jr., and Samuel Hopkins, with Benjamin Baird acting as the first mayor.

Education

The county's education department is the Mecklenburg County Public Schools. It is managed by the Board of Education. Paul Nichols is the County Schools Superintendent.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 679 square miles (1,760 km2), of which 625 square miles (1,620 km2) is land and 54 square miles (140 km2) (7.9%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • I-85
  • US 1
  • US 15
  • US 58
  • SR 4 (U.S. Bicycle Route 1)
  • SR 47
  • SR 49
  • SR 92
  • SR 138

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 14,733
1800 17,008 15.4%
1810 18,453 8.5%
1820 19,786 7.2%
1830 20,477 3.5%
1840 20,724 1.2%
1850 20,630 −0.5%
1860 20,096 −2.6%
1870 21,318 6.1%
1880 24,610 15.4%
1890 25,359 3.0%
1900 26,551 4.7%
1910 28,956 9.1%
1920 31,208 7.8%
1930 32,622 4.5%
1940 31,933 −2.1%
1950 33,497 4.9%
1960 31,428 −6.2%
1970 29,426 −6.4%
1980 29,444 0.1%
1990 29,241 −0.7%
2000 32,280 10.4%
2010 32,727 1.4%
2020 30,319 −7.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Mecklenburg County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 19,215 17,864 58.71% 58.92%
Black or African American alone (NH) 11,958 10,364 36.54% 34.18%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 73 73 0.22% 0.24%
Asian alone (NH) 213 205 0.65% 0.68%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 10 0 0.03% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 22 110 0.07% 0.36%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 430 882 1.31% 2.91%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 806 821 2.46% 2.71%
Total 32,727 30,319 100.00% 100.00%

2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 32,727 people, 12,951 households, and 8,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 17,403 housing units at an average density of 28 units per square mile (11 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.24% White, 39.08% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,951 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.60% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,380, and the median income for a family was $37,752. Males had a median income of $26,852 versus $19,609 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,171. About 11.60% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.60% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Mecklenburg (Virginia) para niños

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